If You're Not Part of the Solution, Are You Part of the Problem?

The sad truth is that most Americans eat less than one piece of fruit a day. And, even sadder, is that the three most popular vegetables are iceberg lettuce, tomatoes (either canned or in the form of ketchup) and potatoes. Think about it: when was the last time you saw a government sponsored billboard, commercial, magazine ad promoting exercise, outdoor activity, vegetables, fruit, whole grains (real ones, not Trix, Lucky Charms or Golden Grahams which are included in the food pyramid as healthy, can you believe it?)?? Wait, you never have?! But we all know what it takes to have a happy, healthy person... why isn't this happening on a world-wide scale?

Now think, when was the last time you saw a poster for "Got Milk?" "Pork: the other white meat . . . or their new one, "Get real! or "Beef: it's what's for dinner." Why would a country in the throes of an obesity epidemic not allocate resources to help its citizens with diet and nutrition? Why are fruits and vegetables not subsidized by the government so organic produce, free from chemicals and GMOs not heavily subsidized so everyone can buy cheap, local produce? Why can't we have Trader Joes everywhere and not wait in line outside just to get in and pick through the leftovers of cheap, organic avocados? Why is Michelle Obama thinking of putting taxes on soda and candy to limit consumption and penalize those who lack knowledge or accessible alternatives-- why isn't she banding with the FDA to give millions of dollars to grassroots organizations to get kids out from behind the TV and running around all afternoon? Because that might actually solve the problem at the expense of the drug companies, corn companies, dairy board, meat industry, weight loss industry, and our feeble, for-profit health system???

***Here are a DOZEN STATS that should scare the shit out of you:


1. Overweight people now outnumber undernourished worldwide. The World Health Organization's estimates agree: globally there are about 1 billion overweight adults, and 300 million of them are obese. In contrast 800 million do not have enough to eat.

2. Currently, more than 64% of US adults are either overweight or obese. Nearly half of the children in North and South America will be overweight by 2010, up from what recent studies say is about one-third, according to a report published by the International Journal of Pediatric Obesity. “We have truly a global epidemic which appears to be affecting most countries in the world,” said Dr. Philip James, chairman of the International Obesity Task Force and author of an editorial in the journal warning of the trend. “They’re being bombarded like they are in the West to eat all the wrong foods. The Western world’s food industries without even realizing it have precipitated an epidemic with enormous health consequences,” he said.

3. The rates of diabetes in this country have more than doubled between 1980 and today. It is likely that the 25% increase in the prevalence of diabetes in the last 20 years in the United States (9) is due to the marked increase in the prevalence of obesity.

4. 44% of American hospitals have fast food restaurants on premises.

5. The average American now consumes more than 100 pounds of sugar and sweeteners per year. In contrast, Americans consume an average of 8 pounds of broccoli.

6. The US spends more than $6,000 per capita on medical care compared with $3,000 spent by the UK, Canada and France, >yet we are the only industrialized nation that fails to offer universal healthcare to all our citizens.

7. More than 61 million people are without access to affordable, essential health services.

8. No standard exists for the phrase "good for your health" on foods.

9. Ensure, a widely distributed "health drink" used in hospitals everywhere has a label boasting, "complete, balanced nutrition to help you stay healthy, active and energetic...number 1 doctor recommended." On analysis, the drink contains four types of synthetic sweeteners and some added vitamins. (Read: it is hyped up sugar water.)

10. The diet and weight loss industry is a $30-billion industry. This industry includes everything from Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, diet pills, artificial sweeteners, diet books, magazines, meal replacement shakes and belly stapling surgeries.) 90% of all dieters of all dieters regain some or all of the weight originally lost.

11. Americans spent $230 billion on prescription drugs in 2005. Between 1999 and 2003, purchases of brand-name drugs increased from $75.5 billion to $141 billion. Spending on generics rose from about $19 billion to approximately $37 billion during the same time period. Every year, 2 million Americans become seriously ill from toxic reactions to incorrectly prescribed medications.

12. Drug companies have the largest lobby in Washington and give generously to political campaigns.


Take Home Message: "Insanity: doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results." ~Albert Einstein.

"We do not have healthcare in this country. We have disease management. The biggest crime of the for-profit medicine is the loss of the practitioner-patient relationship and the loss of lifestyle counseling in the doctors office" ~Dr. Andrew Weil

What to do about the health epidemic and the "solutions" that have failed us over and over again in the industry of "modern nutrition?" Find out in my next post.